Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management

Many questions have been raised concerning the widespread use of pesticides (insecticides for insect control, fungicides for disease, and herbicides for weeds). What is the risk to the environment, to birds and animals, to beneficial insects, and to humans, particularly children? To replace traditional means of pest control, a new attitude is gaining acceptance and being put into practice. This is called Integrated Pest Management or IPM.

A Healthy Garden Environment

A Healthy Garden Environment

One of the major reasons plants and turf succumb to insects or disease is stress, which can be caused by prolonged periods of drought, high temperatures, too much or too little moisture, too much sun, overcrowding, and poor soil.

To minimize disease when there’s too much humidity, water only in the morning and make sure there’s good air circulation around plants.

Adding soil conditioners every year like peat moss, composted manure, or Fafard Sea Compost to break down clay and shredded leaf mould creates a perfect growing medium. The absolute best additive is compost, as it’s also a gentle fertilizer, which eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers. When plants are strong they can resist insects and disease easier.

By determining deficiencies in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, adjustments can be made so that plants are absorbing what they really need. Soil pH can also be tested for acidity and alkalinity so appropriate plants can be selected for the condition.

A simple way to determine soil fertility is with a soil test kit, which is available at any Sheridan Nurseries garden centre.

Insect Control

Insect Control

Every garden is full of insects; some are beneficial, some are not. The important thing to keep in mind is that in a healthy environment there is usually a balance between the two.

Carefully observe all of your garden plants regularly so you’ll know when an infestation gets out of hand and threatens a plant’s survival.

In the case of scale, the ideal time to apply a spray is when it’s in its soft shell stage in August/September and early spring. The timeliness of treatment is as important as the insecticide itself.

For grubs, use beneficial nematodes; these microscopic insects invade grubs, deposit bacteria that ultimately kill them, and move onto the next one. As the population of nematodes increases, so does their effectiveness.

There are a number of products available that cause minimal (if any) damage to the environment. BTK (Bacillus thuringiensis) has been around a long time for controlling caterpillars. Safer’s® Slug & Snail Bait is effective and works quickly. Insecticidal soap works to control most soft-bodied pests. Look at the full line of Safer’s® and Green Earth products for safe controls.

To determine a solution, the insect needs to be correctly identified and its life cycle understood.

Visit a Sheridan Nurseries garden centre nearest you for assistance in identifying any unknown problems.

Disease Control

Disease Control

Some plants are naturally predisposed to certain diseases:

Roses are prone to powdery mildew, rust, and black spot. To prevent these diseases, avoid wetting leaves and watering roses in the evening.

Climatic conditions are a large factor in the proliferation of disease. A lot of rain over a prolonged period sets up a perfect breeding environment for disease. Your best defense is to remove damaged foliage as quickly as possible.

Weed Control

Weed Control

Weeds grow wherever there’s a gap. When a lawn is thin and in poor condition, it’s often overtaken with weeds.

Fafard Viva Mix and Fafard Sea compost can be added to the root system for a stronger, thicker turf.

In spots where grass doesn’t grow, for instance, in shade under mature trees, plant ground covers such as bugleweed (Ajuga reptans), Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis), or sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum). They form such a thick carpet that weeds will not grow through.